Israel

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consequences will follow if Israel disregards the request to withdraw from Palestinian towns and villages made by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia at their Madrid meeting.

Baroness Amos: The international community has made clear that Israel should withdraw from Palestinian cities, both at the Quartet meeting on 10 April, and in UN Security Council Resolution 1402 adopted on 30 March. It would not be helpful to speculate on the consequences of a failure by Israel to withdraw fully. But recent Israeli actions can only be harmful to Israel's reputation abroad. Its partial withdrawal to date should be completed immediately. Both sides must step back from the brink. We welcome US diplomatic efforts to secure a full withdrawal and to resume negotiations on a political settlement, and we stand ready to help in whatever way we can.

Iraq

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which diplomatic mission in London looks after the interests of Iraq; and what facilities are given to that mission for material originating in Iraq to be brought into the United Kingdom by diplomatic bag.

Baroness Amos: The Iraqi Interests Section is located in the Jordanian Embassy and is headed by Dr Mudhafar Amin. Arrangements for the transmission of material from Iraq to the UK via the Jordanian diplomatic bag are a matter for the Government of Jordan.

FCO Posts Overseas: Assets of Cultural Significance

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the records of antiques that are held in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's posts overseas, as described in the National Asset Register, are available to the public; and, if not, whether they will make them available to the public.

Baroness Amos: The FCO records of the antiques held in the FCO buildings in London and at posts overseas are available in London for inspection on request. There are valid security reasons for not placing such data freely in the public domain.

Abu Sayyaf Group

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have evidence of recent attacks on civilians in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf group, which is connected to Al-Qaeda.

Baroness Amos: It is for the Philippine Government to investigate terrorist attacks in their own territory and to gather evidence. However, from contacts with both the Philippine and US authorities and non-governmental organisations, we believe that the Abu Sayyaf group is still active and carrying out attacks against civilians in the Philippines.

Chittagong Hill Tracts

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What development activities are being considered by the European Commission in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, as mentioned in its country strategy paper Bangladesh 2002–2006; and in what way they expect these activities to have a positive impact on the peace process.

Baroness Amos: The European Commission sent a programming mission to the Chittagong Hill Tracts in January. It identified possible interventions in water resource management and other sectors. Implementation of these interventions is prone to social and political risk given the continuing instability in the region. The European Commission is still committed to programming 60 million euro in the CHT from 2002–06 but is likely to work up new initiatives carefully in the light of political developments and progress with the peace accord. Further details will be in its National Indicative Programme for Bangladesh, which should be approved by October. The EC maintains close dialogue with the UK Government and other donors on its development plans and implementation of the peace accord.

East Timor

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to ensure that reconciliation will take place in an independent East Timor after 20 May; that refugees return safely; and that Indonesia meets its obligations under international law.

Baroness Amos: The UK has committed more than £300,000 to support the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CRTR) in East Timor. The CRTR will facilitate the investigation of past abuses, while at the same time promoting community reconciliation and the return of refugees remaining in West Timor and reducing pressure on the over burdened judicial system.
	The UK welcomes the establishment of the ad hoc tribunal for East Timor which began in Jakarta in March 2002. We will monitor the tribunal's progress and remind the Indonesians of the need to extend the jurisdiction of the tribunal to cover all the human rights abuses committed in East Timor in 1999.

Tax Credits

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they budget for 100 per cent take-up of public expenditure and tax reliefs under tax credits.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The figures in the Financial Statement and Budget Report are based on forecasts of the costs of the tax credits and tax reliefs incurred each year. Depending on the tax credit, these forecasts may or may not equal 10 per cent take-up.

Customs and Excise: Vehicle Seizure Policy

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	If HM Customs and Excise will change its vehicle seizure policy in relation to alcohol and tobacco smuggling as a result of the Court of Appeal decision in the Lindsay case

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Court of Appeal confirmed in the Lindsay case that Customs vehicle seizure and non-restoration policy in relation to those who smuggle alcohol and tobacco for profit was justified and proportionate. It also confirmed that vehicles used to smuggle on a non-profit basis were similarly liable to seizure. However, the court considered that in not-for-profit cases a proportionate response, depending on the individual circumstances, would be to offer to restore such seized vehicles.
	Accordingly when Customs detects commercial for profit smugglers, any vehicles used in such smuggling will remain subject to the existing tough seizure and non-restoration policy. However, Customs has now further developed its vehicle seizure policy taking into account the clarification provided by the Court of Appeal. When Customs detects not-for-profit smugglers, their goods and vehicles will be seized but vehicle restoration will ordinarily be offered in the first instance for a sum equivalent to the revenue evaded. There will be a rising scale for any subsequent offences up to non-restoration. Customs will reserve the right to vary its restoration terms according to the aggravating or mitigating circumstances of any individual case.
	This policy will allow Customs to continue its successful approach of hitting those who smuggle for profit with tough sanctions that strike at their illicit trade and also provides a real and proportionate penalty for those who break the law, albeit without such profit-making motivation. It represents a fair and balanced policy.

Treasury Solicitor's Department: Assets of Cultural Significance

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give full details of the antique furniture held by the Treasury Solicitor's Department at 9 Buckingham Gate.

Lord Goldsmith: No. 9 Buckingham Gate is occupied by me and the Solicitor-General and by my chambers, known as the the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers. Although LSLO is on the Treasury Solicitor's Department's Vote, it is a separate government department and owns the assets at Buckingham Gate.
	A survey was last carried out in December 1997 by Bonhams. Some 24 items (which include sets of chairs) were identified and valued at a total market cost of £16,230. The most valuable single item is a Regency bookcase valued at £5,500. Of the remaining 23 items identified, 21 were valued at less than £1,000.
	The items of furniture are chairs, desks, tables, bookcases, mirrors and a settle.
	All of the items of furniture are in daily use and it is intended that they should continue to be so used.

Consignia

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether as the sole shareholder they had prior knowledge of and approved of the opening of negotiations, which subsequently proved to be abortive, for the sale of Consignia at a time when, according to the new chairman, Mr Allan Leighton, "the Company is haemorrhaging cash".

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Consignia notified the department about its intention to explore the possibility of a merger of its postal activities with the Dutch Post Office (TPG) and Ministers indicated that they were content for the company to do so.

Consignia

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the name Consignia has now been wholly changed back to "The Post Office"; and, if so, at what cost.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: No, it has not.

Consignia

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	As the sole shareholder in Consignia, whether they were consulted by the management of Consignia in connection with the change of name of the company to and from Consignia.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The choice of name of the Post Office company and the cost of its implementation were essentially commercial matters for the company, and although Ministers were informed of the company's intention, it was not an area in which government would have sought to intervene.

Post Office Network

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What criteria are used when considering the closure of sub-post offices in urban areas such as Birkenhead and its districts including Oxton.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The programme to restructure the urban post office network will be taken forward in consultation with individual sub-postmasters, the community, local stakeholders and Postwatch. Under the Code of Practice, Post Office Limited is required to consult Postwatch on individual changes and plans to brief it on the process envisaged for reaching decisions.
	The objective of the Post Office in carrying out restructuring is to provide modernised and improved facilities which meet the high expectations of customers in the right location for the local community.

Galileo Signals

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action is being taken to ensure that the European Galileo system will not suffer from signal interference.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Like other radio and radio-navigation signals such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Galileo signals will not be immune to interference.
	However, the UK is actively involved in the European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA) programme on the development format of the Galileo signals to make them as robust as possible, thereby mitigating any interference effects. The UK is also involved in discussions between the EU and the US on co-operation on satellite radio-navigation, including the need to ensure that the GPS and Galileo signals are not a source of interference to one another.

Island Goods Vehicles: Excise Duty

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the rates of vehicle excise duty for "island goods vehicles", as defined in paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994; how these rates compare with mainland goods vehicle rates; and what other benefits are accorded to "island goods vehicles".

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The current annual rate of vehicle excise duty for island goods vehicles is £165, rather than the standard rate of excise duty of up to £1,850 for goods vehicles kept on the mainland.
	This rate applies to goods vehicles kept on islands of less than 230,000 hectares specified in the Vehicle Excise Duty (Designation of Small Islands) Order 1995. A vehicle of more than 17,000kg gross weight qualifies for the concession only if it is used only on the mainland to load or unload goods at premises not more than 5km from the point where they disembarked.
	The Government announced in the Budget that an order had been laid to amend the list of specified islands from 1 June 2002 to include Orkney mainland, Shetland mainland and Lewis and Harris.
	The licensing of a vehicle in the small island vehicles taxation class does not bring any benefits other than the lower rate of annual duty.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Cleansing and Disinfection

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cleaning and disinfecting payments arising from the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease are still outstanding; and whether they will list the numbers and payments that are outstanding by month due.

Lord Whitty: From information held centrally, the estimated cost currently of cleansing and disinfection arising from the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak is £280 million. This figure is subject to change because contractual arrangements involve accounting and auditing processes whereby invoices are received and must be verified and agreed by Defra. This is an on-going process. When complete I shall place a final cost figure for cleansing and disinfection in connection with the FMD outbreak in the Library of the House.

Food Production

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the views of the Minister for Animal Welfare, given to the British Columbia veterinary association Council in 1999 and quoted in the Veterinary Record on 13 April 2002, that "unless British farmers can produce demonstrably better or different food than other countries, then food will be sourced on a least-cost basis" and "if other countries choose to subsidise their food production, then we will purchase their produce at a net saving to our consumers".

Lord Whitty: I believe that the noble Baroness is referring to a meeting with the British Cattle Veterinary Association and not the British Columbia veterinary association. I understand that while my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Commons) believes her first quote to be accurate the second he believes is not.
	I agree with my colleague, who was simply trying to remind the association that the rules of economics apply for food and agricultural products as in other sectors of the economy. In the marketplace, unless your product can be differentiated and consumers are prepared to pay a premium, all other things being equal they will purchase at the lowest price they need to pay for the quality of product they wish to consume. That applies both within countries and in international trade. Of course controls are necessary in international trade to protect animal health and to ensure that foodstuffs imported into our market meet our standards.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act: Mapping

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of the number of responses received from the consultation on the draft maps following from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, they plan to extend the proposed three-month consultation period for the provisional maps for those areas; and whether they will also extend it to future draft plans.

Lord Whitty: The Countryside Agency issued a revised timetable for mapping open country on 17 April, giving more time for the agency to draw on the experience of mapping in the lead mapping regions and to focus on the preparation of good quality maps for the rest of the country. The agency plans to issue a provisional map for the lower north-west region in September this year. This is later than previously envisaged but will allow the agency thoroughly to examine all the comments made on the draft map. We believe that a period of three months is quite sufficient to enable anyone to comment on a draft map. Our consultation paper on regulations for the issue of provisional and conclusive maps proposed a similar period for bringing appeals against the showing of land on a provisional map. We are considering the responses to the consultation paper and expect to make regulations in June.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act: Mapping

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much Ministry of Defence land has been shown as open to public access on the draft maps produced pursuant to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Lord Whitty: The Countryside Agency issued draft maps of open country and registered common land for part of the South East and the lower North West of England in November 2001. Parts of four Army training areas and part of one research and development establishment were shown on those maps as either open country or registered common land. The agency expects to issue further draft maps for the remaining mapping regions over the next 18 months.
	Land which is shown on a draft map, and which is subsequently shown on the conclusive map, may be land to which there will be no right of access because it is excepted land. Excepted land includes land the use of which is regulated by by-laws made under the Military Lands Acts of 1892 or 1900. However, military by-laws often provide for a right of access to training lands when it is safe to do so (for example, when training is not taking place), and in these cases access under those provisions will continue. Where defence training lands which are not subject to by-laws are mapped as open country or registered common land, then my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence may make directions restricting or excluding access where necessary for the purposes of defence.

Radioactive Waste

Lord Oxburgh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 17 April (WA 158), whether they will estimate the date by which they will be able to announce plans for the next steps developing the strategy for the management of radioactive waste.

Lord Whitty: We shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

Feakin Family Claims

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether members of the Feakin family are threatening to sue the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and, if so, on what grounds.

Lord Whitty: Members of the Feakin family have made formal claims against the department which are currently the subjects of legal proceedings. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment on the nature or detail of the claims.

Canal Network Grant

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the £24 million granted in 1999 over three years to British Waterways in support of the canal network has been spent; whether the backlog of overdue maintenance and repair to which it was directed has been eliminated; and whether any further grant is envisaged.

Lord Whitty: The £24 million additional grant awarded in 1999 has been spent towards the elimination of the safety maintenance backlog. An extra £18 million has been made available under SR2000 for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04. This enabled targets for eliminating the safety backlog and maintenance arrears to be brought forward to 2004 (from 2006) and 2021 (from 2025). Future funding needs will be considered as part of SR2002.

MAFF v Winslade

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence was made available to the court in the case of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food v Winslade in May 2001; and whether they consider that the submission of that evidence complied with the Civil Procedures Rules 1998 relating to interim remedy orders.

Lord Whitty: The ministry submitted appropriate witness statements supporting its case. This was in compliance with the Civil Procedure Rules.

NHS Patients Treated Abroad

Baroness Uddin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which European and non-European countries have already accepted or are in the process of accepting patients from Britain for medical care.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Under the pilot scheme to send patients overseas for NHS-comissioned elective surgery, France and Germany accepted a total of 181 patients for treatment between 18 January and 12 April 2002. NHS bodies at present have no power to commission treatment outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA comprises the European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
	Between 1 January and 12 April 2002 the Department of Health approved applications under the E112 scheme from patients for approval to travel to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portual, Spain and Sweden. In the same period the department has also approved the referral of patients to Switzerland on an ex gratia basis.

PowderJect Pharmaceuticals

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What previous government contracts have been awarded to PowderJect Pharmaceuticals; and what have been the outcomes of those contracts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has awarded to PowderJect Pharmaceuticals or to its subsidiaries various contracts for the supply of BCG vaccines, Tuberculin PPD solutions and influenza vaccine.
	No government department, other than the Department of Health, has reported award of any other previous contracts to the company.

Obesity

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they recognise the problem of obesity, especially among young people; and, if so, what proposals they have to establish a campaign about nutritious food led by the Department of Health.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in childhood obesity and action to encourage children to eat a balanced diet. We have put in place major cross-government programmes of work to improve healthy eating and increase physical activity. This includes the National School Fruit Scheme, where over 80,000 children in 27 areas and over 500 schools now receive a free piece of fruit each school day. Additional funding of £42 million from the New Opportunities Fund will enable the scheme to expand to cover over 1 million children from 2002 to 2004. From 2004 all four to six year-olds will be entitled to a free piece of fruit each school day. This is part of a wider Five-a-day Programme to increase access to, and awareness of, fruit and vegetables.
	Secondly, there is work with industry to improve the overall balance of diet, including the reduction of salt, sugar and fat in food.
	We already have a National Healthy School Programme, a joint initiative between the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills, which has as one of its themes healthy eating. Schools are encouraged to provide, promote and monitor healthier food at lunch and break times and in any breakfast clubs. This will be complemented by the Food in Schools Programme which aims to bring together under one umbrella all food-related initiatives in schools and after school clubs to improve health and learning.
	Physical activity is also important. We are working across government to ensure that children have opportunities to participate in a wide range of physical and sporting activities. On 11 January 2001 the Prime Minister announced that all children will be entitled to a minimum of two hours a week of high quality physical education and school sport both within and beyond the school curriculum. This was followed by a commitment in the White Paper Schools—achieving success. Significant funding is also being provided to enhance PE and sports facilities in schools, including £541 million from the New Opportunities Fund for a PE and Sports Programme.

BSE and vCJD

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any unassailable scientific evidence linking BSE in cattle to nvCJD in humans.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Although there is no direct evidence that the BSE prion is infectious to humans, obtaining such evidence could not be justified ethically as this would require humans to be inoculated with BSE. A judgment on the link between BSE and vCJD inevitably depends on an assessment of a range of clinical, pathological, epidemiological and laboratory based evidence. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee considers that there is now convincing evidence that BSE is the cause of vCJD, although there remains uncertainty about the future number of cases and the mechanism of transmission of BSE to humans.
	The association between BSE and variant vCJD has been discussed in a number of published scientific articles. Details of those of particular significance are as follows: 1. Will R. G., Ironside-Zeidler M., Cousens S. N., Estibeiro K., Alperovitch A., Poser S., Pocchiari M., Hofman A., Smith P. G. A new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in the UK. Lancet 1996, 347/9006, P921–925. 2. Bruce M. E., Will R. G., Ironside J. W., McConnell I. D., Suttie A., McCardle L., Chree A., Hope J., Birkett C., Cousens S., Fraser H., Bostock C. J. Transmissions to mice indicate that "new variant" CJD is caused by the BSE agent. Nature, 1997, 389 (6650), P498–501. 3. Collinge J., Sidle K. C. L., Meads J., Ironside J., Hill A. F. Molecular analysis of prion strain variation and the etiology of new variant CJD. Nature, 1996, 383, P685–690. 4. Lasmezas C. I., Deslys J. P., Demaimay R., Adjou K., Lamoury F., Robain O., Ironside J., Hauw J. J., Court L., Dormont D. Experimental transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to macaques. Travaux Scientifiques Des Chercheurs Du Service De Sante Des Armees 0 (18), 1997, P123–124. 5. Will R. New variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. Biomedicine-Pharmacotherapy, 1999, 53, NI, Feb, P9–13. 6. Will R. G., Knight R. S. E., Ward H. J., Ironside J. W. nvCJD; the critique that never was BMJ Letters Nov 2001, 323 (7317) P858–861.
	The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, the independent expert group that advises the Government on all aspects of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, regularly reviews relevant published articles. The committee remains of the opinion that experimental results provide convincing evidence that the agent which causes vCJD in humans is the same as that which causes BSE in cattle.

Mixed-sex Wards

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 16 April (WA 154), whether they will now answer the Question asked, namely, "why the Department of Health did not acknowledge or reply to a letter concerning mixed-sex wards sent by the Lord Stoddart of Swindon to the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 12 December 2001 until 11 March 2002; and whether they will give assurance that the response time to letters from Members will be considerably reduced in future".

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I regret that I cannot explain why the noble Lord did not receive an acknowledgement. I apologise to the noble Lord. The department's computer system for tracking and monitoring ministerial correspondence automatically prints out acknowledgement letters for each piece of correspondence registered. The delay in replying was caused by a temporary backlog which has since been cleared.
	The department is in the process of reviewing procedures to improve response times in line with the Service First Targets.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that National Health Service patients suffering from "wet" age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have ready access to licensed treatments, including photodynamic therapy with Visudyne, pending the final appraisal determination on such treatments by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health issued a circular in August 1999 asking National Health Service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.
	NICE has published for consultation the initial thoughts of the independent appraisal committee. The consultation concludes on 30 April 2002 and we are expecting guidance to be issued to the NHS in July 2002, provided there are no appeals.

Healthcare Resource Groups

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of National Health Service (a) acute activity and (b) non-acute activity is covered by health resource groups.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Healthcare resource groups (HRGs) are one of a series of activity measures used as the basis of reference costs. In the 2000–01 financial year, reference costs covered £21 billion of National Health Service expenditure, accounting for approximately 83 per cent. of hospital and community health services expenditure.
	HRGs are used primarily for inpatient and day case activity, a limited range of outpatient activity and accident and emergency services. HRGs are also available for some specialised services, for example radiotherapy, but with the development of specialist commissioning some of the HRGs have been superseded to reflect changes in clinical practice, for example bone marrow transplantation. Where these refinements have been introduced, the aim is better to reflect the differences in cost due to casemix.
	Overall, 53 per cent. of hospital and community health services and 64 per cent. of reference costs were covered by HRGs and these refinements in 2001–02.
	Although HRGs have not been introduced for a range of non-acute services, some non-HRG refinements are planned better to reflect differences in caseload and casemix (for example nursing services for children in 2003).
	As with any initiative, the level of coverage is iterative and reference costs are expected to cover 100 per cent. of all hospital and community health services by 2004, although some elements will not be fully casemix adjusted by this date.

Intermediate Care Capacity

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How intermediate care capacity is measured; who is responsible for the creation of such capacity; and how much such capacity exists at present.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Intermediate care capacity is measured in terms of numbers of beds, non-residential places and people receiving services in line with the targets set out in the NHS Plan. Local National Health Service and social services organisations commission intermediate care services, which are provided in a range of settings.
	A survey of NHS intermediate care in England conducted last summer indicated the following levels of provision:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2001–02 Additional 
			 No of beds 4,579 6,974 +2,395 
			 No of non-residential places 8,343 14,580 +6,237 
			 People receiving services 136,032 262,206 +126,174 
		
	
	The full results of the survey, giving data by region and by health authority, are available in the Library.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the terms of reference and timetable for the Medical Research Council to produce its broad strategy for advancing biomedical and health services research on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis following the Government's statement on 11 January; and
	When they expect the Medical Research Council to be in a position to call for research proposals based upon the recommendations of the independent working group's report to the Chief Medical Officer on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health has asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) to develop a broad strategy for advancing biomedical and health services research on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ME. The MRC is currently setting up an Independent Scientific Advisory Group to develop that strategy. The terms of reference and timetable will be published on the MRC's website as soon as the group has agreed them. The MRC takes its responsibility in this matter very seriously and will ensure that progress is made as quickly as possible without jeopardising the integrity of the process.
	It would be inappropriate at this stage to give a timescale for a call for research proposals or to anticipate any other possible recommendations of the independent advisory group.
	However, the MRC always welcomes high quality applications from the scientific community for support into any aspect of biomedical research and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. When appropriate, high quality research in the areas MRC is promoting may be given priority in competition for funds, but research excellence and importance to health will continue to be the primary considerations in funding decisions.

Gaming Machines

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why, in paragraph 4.10 of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's report A Safe Bet for Success, there is a proposal to allow amusement-with-prizes (AWP) gaming machines generally in unlicensed and unsupervised premises; and whether this is consistent with (a) paragraph 23.12 of the Budd Report (Cm 5207) and (b) market research which suggests that machines in unlicensed premises are opposed by the public.

Baroness Blackstone: A Safe Bet for Success (Cm 5397) draws a clear distinction between gaming machines and amusement machines which can offer a small prize. The Government plan that the maximum stakes and prizes in such amusement machines will be 10p and £5.
	Gaming machines will be allowed only in on-licensed premises, registered clubs and specific gambling premises. Amusement machines will be allowed, with local authority permission, in other types of premises also. Paragraphs 7.10 to 7.12 of Cm 5397 explain our reasoning.
	The report of the Gambling Review Body, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, noted that the research which it had commissioned indicated that most of those questioned did not think that there should be no fruit machines in venues such as cafes, take-away food shops and minicab offices.

Gaming Machines

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any official or reliable information on how many gaming machines operate in the United Kingdom; how much is spent on gaming machines; how many scratch cards are sold; and whether there is any central list of the physical location of operating gambling outlets, or gaming machines, or lottery terminals; and, if not, how they propose to collate and publish such statistical information, as is required by law in other gambling countries, prior to legislation on gambling.

Baroness Blackstone: A Safe Bet for Success (Cm 5397), which sets out the Government's plans for reforming the controls on the gambling industry in Great Britain, estimates the number of gaming machines in Great Britain at 250,000 and the money retained from them each year by suppliers and site owners at £1.5 billion, gross of tax.
	In 2000–01, 546 million National Lottery scratchcards were sold. Information is not readily available about the number of scratchcards sold through society lotteries.
	The Gaming Board for Great Britain holds a list of operating bingo clubs and casinos. The locations of betting shops, racetracks and gaming machine arcades are known to their respective licensing authorities but there is no central list of these premises. There is no central list of the location of gaming machines.
	The National Lottery operator maintains a list of retailers with its terminals.
	A Safe Bet for Success does not propose the publication of a central list of the location of gambling facilities.

Gaming Machines

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the chairman of the Gaming Board stated on 11 April that amusement-with-prizes (AWP) gaming machines should not be allowed generally in unlicensed and unsupervised premises.

Baroness Blackstone: In his speech to the Gambling Industry Forum on 11 April, the chairman of the Gaming Board said that the board had suggested that AWP machines should be removed from outlets such as cafes and fish and chip shops. Partly because experience showed that such machines were often sited without a permit or were of a type not allowed; and that the problem would remain and enforcment would in practice be difficult.

Government Reports

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that all reports produced or initiated or commissioned by a government department carry the date of the publication on the body of the report and not only on the letter which accompanies the report; and whether they will require all such reports to contain within them the full glossary.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: It is impractical to include the date of publication on a report as this may not be known when it is sent for final printing. The inclusion of glossaries is a matter of good practice and these will be included whenever time allows for these to be produced.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, since the appointment of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, they have received representations concerning the representative nature of the commission as required in the legislation and the Belfast Agreement of 1998; and, if so, how many such representations they have received.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In addition to 16 representations by the noble Lord, since the establishment of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 1 March 1999 the Government have received 16 representations from seven individuals. Prior to this, there were three representations from three individuals.

Northern Ireland: Victim Support

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the result and cost of the Northern Ireland Office Victims Liaison Unit Clio evaluation of victim's core funding; and what was their response to the evaluation.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In July 2001 the Victims Liaison Unit commissioned Clio Evaluation Consortium (CEC) to carry out an independent evaluation of the Core Funding Scheme for Victims and Survivors Groups. The evaluation, which cost £65k, was recently completed and the CEC's report was published and distributed to groups on 27 April 2002.
	The evaluation measures the impact and effectiveness of the Core Funding Programme for Victims and Survivors Groups, highlights innovative approaches adopted by the projects, identifies the longer-term organisational requirements of groups and describes the potential synergies between the core funding programme and the New Peace 11 Measures for Victims. The evaluation also makes recommendations regarding the targeting of future funding. The key recommendations from the report are listed below.
	The Government are currently considering the report and will use CEC's findings to inform the work they are doing to set criteria for a new core funding scheme, for which Des Browne, Victims Minister, has announced funding of a further £3 million.
	A seminar has been arranged at which CEC will present their findings and recommendations to victims' and survivors' groups. The seminar will provide groups with an opportunity to input their views on how the recommendations can best be taken forward.
	The key recommendations from the Clio evaluation report are:
	Recommendation 1: that funding for the development of victim-related work be continued and the funding base broadened.
	Recommendation 2: that the core funding programme be continued as it is complementary to the Peace 11 measures for victims.
	Recommendation 3: that a more strategic, long-term and reflective approach be taken to funding in this area of work.
	Recommendation 4: that current core funding be more targeted and developed with the recognition that decisions taken now affect the long term; ideally long term funds are needed if needs are to be adequately met.
	Recommendation 5: that new criteria be drawn up for the core funding programme which reflect strategic targeting and are aimed at meeting long term needs.
	Recommendation 6: that the administration systems of the current and any future IFB be sound and efficient; experience should be gleaned and used from NIVT's administration of the programme.
	Recommendation 7: that the IFB should provide improved and ongoing support to programme staff.
	Recommendation 8: that the IFB should ensure that there is appropriate support, training and communication systems for groups.
	Recommendation 9: that both the IFB and the groups should build in monitoring and evaluation practice.

Northern Ireland: Victim Support

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the conditions set for the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust in the distribution of European Union Funding for victims and prisoners.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The European Union Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, also known as Peace 1, under which the NIO was responsible for match funding by 25 per cent. funding to ex-prisoners and victims, came to an end on 31 March 2002.
	The conditions set for the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT) in the distribution of Peace 1 funding for victims and ex-prisoners are contained in separate detailed contracts signed by the European Commission and NIO with the body in question.
	The conditions include:
	general conditions in relation to how NIVT should use the funds;
	financial conditions governing controls audits and access;
	conditions around how funds should be distributed by the intermediary;
	conditions around other sources of funding;
	conditions about monitoring and evaluation;
	conditions over publicity;
	conditions forbidding the use of funds for party political purposes; and
	the rules governing European Community policy and competition.
	The contract also indicated the level of funding available and specified it was to be used for the purposes of:
	(a) helping those who are the victims of conflict come to terms with their losses and accelerate the healing process; and
	(b) diverting those at risk of offending away from crime, particularly in those areas which have been most affected by the conflict.